Sussex Gardeners awarded for excellence
The Sussex Gardeners met June 20 at Kings Creek Country Club in Rehoboth Beach, when President Dianne Shawley and Co-Vice President Gina D’Alfonso presented a slide show highlighting the year’s activities.
Shawley announced the Delaware Federation of Garden Clubs recognized Sussex Gardeners with awards for several of its 2023 projects. Most notably, Sussex Gardeners placed first for the President’s Award of Excellence, recognizing member participation in chapter and state activities throughout the program year.
For assisting residents of Brandywine Living at Seaside Pointe in making small floral arrangements, the club received first place in Horticulture Garden Therapy.
The club also merited first place for Decoration of Historic Building for its project decorating Zwaanendael Museum for the Lewes Tulip Celebration. The club’s decoration project at Zwaanendael Museum for the Lewes Holiday Tour placed third in the same category.
Sussex Gardeners also received a second-place award in the Public Education category for decorating Zwaanendael Museum for the tulip celebration.
The club’s project preparing holiday nosegays for Meals on Wheels was awarded second place in Special Achievement. The club placed second in the Yearbook category as well.
During lunch, names were pulled randomly, and each attendee was given a Proven Winners plant as an introduction to the afternoon program, Preserving Flowers in All Forms. Susan Mielke, co-vice president, and her committee members each demonstrated a way to preserve favorite blooms.
Elva Davidson presented techniques for traditional flower pressing. Mielke discussed preserving through photography. Gina D’Alfonso presented the art of flower hammering, using both cloth and paper. Lucille D’Alfonso introduced the method of using a microwave oven to dry and press blooms, using a microwaveable press. Crystal Selway contributed sugar cookies expertly cut out and decorated as flowers, leaves and butterflies.
Sussex Gardeners is a member of National Garden Clubs Inc., Central Atlantic Region of State Garden Clubs Inc. and Delaware Federation of Garden Clubs. For more information about Sussex Gardeners, email sussexgardeners@gmail.com.
